Cashew nuts contain less fat than most other prevalent nuts, including almonds, peanuts, walnuts and pecans. The monounsaturated fatty acids in organic cashews like oleic and palmitoleic acids help to lower or bad LDL cholesterol and increase good HDL cholesterol. Their high copper content, phytochemicals and antioxidants provide protection from cancer, diabetes, gallstones, anaemia and also depression. A handful of cashew nuts a day in the diet would provide enough of minerals and prevent the deficiency diseases. Cashews are often used in raw food recipes. Their mild sweetness and smooth texture add flavour to many raw food dishes. All of the aforementioned benefits feature brighter growth aspects for the organic cashew market in the near future.

The organic cashew nuts market is segmented on the basis of their applications, product form, distribution channel and by regions. Based on their form, organic cashews are divided as whole, roasted, powder, paste and splits. Based on applications, the market is classified as dairy products, bakery products, snacks & bars, confectionaries, cereals, desserts and beverages. Based on the distribution channel, the market is segmented as retailers, convenience stores, supermarkets and specialist stores.

The rising demand for ready-to-eat snacks, nutritious convenient foods, fuel the market globally. Availability of various flavours such as salted, smoky, pepper, butter has driven the sales of organic cashew nuts. Health conscious consumers are increasingly preferring the vegan lifestyle and opting for healthy substitutes for conventional sources of protein such as red meat and plant-based alternatives. Protein-rich nuts consumption like organic cashews is a feasible option in this case.

The excessive intake of cashews may cause diarrhoea and several bowel disorders. Also, the higher costs of the raw materials to process the nuts acts as a restraint to the market growth.

Globally, the largest production of organic cashews is observed in countries such as Vietnam India Sri Lanka, Nigeria, Côte d’Ivoire and Madagascar. The Asia Pacific and MEA geographies excel in the production of organic cashews and feature higher growth prospects in the forecast timespan. The factors supporting the regional growth are health consciousness & rise in per-capita health expenditure, growth in middle-class population and rapid urbanization. Also, the developed regions such as North America and Europe are likely to witness popularity for the organic cashew consumption in future. African Cashew Alliance (ACA), is promoting and supporting organic cashew processing ventures. According to ACA, African farmers currently grow about 48% of the world’s cashews. The rising awareness regarding health benefits has contributed significantly to the volume growth over the forecast period.